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We Buy Real Estate Like Our Grandparents (and Other Trends for 2013)

Written by: Brian O'Connell12/14/12 - 11:56 AM EST

NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- What will the housing market look like in 2013?

The ERA Real Estate office in Parsippany, N.J., worked with clinical psychologist Leslie Reisner to put what it calls an "offbeat, but interesting" magnifying glass to U.S. consumer homebuying behaviors, finding that the worst housing market since the Great Depression has radically altered the mindset of U.S. consumers.

What are the "emotional behavior" trends that top the list? Here's a snapshot:

Buyers are better-informed and decisive. The ERA actually calls this type of buyer the "broker's backup." It signifies a buyer who is "well-researched and knowledgable" and "very active" in the entire homebuying process. The backup buyer isn't in it for investment purposes; he or she wants a great place to live and plant some roots. "A good number of clients know exactly what they want and are savvy with pricing," says Ranelle Birmingham, a broker at ERA Sarver Real Estate. "I have seen a pattern of buyers making lower offers than normal and then walking away to another house that meets their criteria if the offer is not accepted.

Families are increasingly multigenerational. The days of a young mom and dad, or a single professional buying a home for their own needs, is going the way of the incandescent light bulb. The ERA sees a big rise in multigenerational families buying homes, with everyone living under one roof - grandma and grandpa included. "Buyers in this situation are not only reacting to current conditions, but also planning for their future, keeping their immediate and extended family top-of-mind when purchasing a home," the ERA says.

Buyers don't want fixer-uppers. the 2013 homebuyer increasingly wants a home that is "move-in ready." They want up-to-date properties, and given a choice between buying a home that needs repairs or paying a little more for a "ready-to-roll" property, they're digging deeper and paying for the higher-quality property. "Think HGTV," said broker William Hurt of ERA Shields Real Estate. "There are buyers out there that want premium properties. Some have to compromise on price to get them but will do so in order to gain a home in great condition."

The age of the McMansion is over. Buyers are no longer panting for the suburban mansion or the urban colonial with five bedrooms. Instead, they want to scale down the ladder, buy a small home and use the extra money (and sanity) to travel more and indulge in favorite hobbies that involve more fishing for trout than digging out grout.

In short, maybe it is your father's (or grandfather's) homebuying mindset: Smaller is better, and the more family member on the premises, the better.

"As our economy continues to recover, buyers are on definitely on the move," Reisner says. "However, the way consumers approach buying a home today is different than it was during the real estate boom. Lifestyles have changed and therefore, behaviors have changed."